No, Iain, it shows his cunning! it cuts across the whole Bush/Rove line which the Democrats are trying to pin on him. Nasty, nice, nasty, nice. Keeps Obama guessing and unable to accuse Mccain of being grumpy as well.

Canvas, you are being oversensitive. You know full well that I have been very positive towards Obama over recent months. I have just re-read my post and see nothing in it to retract at all. Indeed, I was quite mild. I think there is a tremendous potential for him to blow it tonight. I don't want him to, but it all smacks of premature triumphalism.

Obama's speech was predictable, no specifics, just the usual laundry list of what the gov't can do for you. His roared out offer to debate McCain "right now" was funny seeing as he's consistently refused to do any real (unscripted) debates at all and won't even go on Fox News.

His delivery was a bit odd, he really comes across as hectoring and even angry. You'd think that this speech should've been positive, upbeat, motivating and cheerful but it wasn't that way at all.

If you want to see stirring Democrat convention speeches go find Mario Cuomo or even Ted Kennedy in his heyday.

Today's lot don't have it and instead need to construct stupid over the top stadium set pieces.

Today, by any standards, a historical day. A coloured American is within a few steps from the White House. In my student days in America, I have seen how black Americans were treated in America. How my black American class mates were humilated. Many times, I a brown young man was allowed in restaurants to sit with white friends, where as my black friends were barred entry. I am witnessing something I thought 45 years ago would never happen in my life time.

McCain may be an acceptable face of Republican Party. But I am puzzled why he did not answer a simple question on the number of homes he owned. Like me , he belongs to the past.

It is not the neocons baggage that Republicans carry that brings out worst in their followers but the religious nutters who support them and who were used as attack dogs in Ohio to give the second term to Bush. They spewed out hatred questioning patriotism of just about any American who disgreed with their antipathy to minorities- gays, women, blacks just about any one who are different. I am right-of centre in my political views, and that for me is detestable. Without the support of this group who call themselves Conservative Republicans, McCain cannot win.

He isn't classy because he puts out one ad in amongst a host of other personal attack ads that came out of Rove's playbook. McCain said he'd run a campaign of ideas but he has done nothing of the sort.

But let me guess he'll blame it all on being a POW - the catch all excuse.

Iain, I agree - this was a decent thing to do, and it is good to remember that McCain is a fundamentally decent man.

I've just come from the stadium where Obama gave his speech. He made special mention of McCain's qualities and service, and that received a warm round of applause from almost the entire crowd.

The US should be proud of the comparative civility that this campaign has seen.

On your Telegraph column - I agree entirely, except to say that the Conservative party shouldn't be looking for Republican strategists - they should be looking for Democratic Party strategists, who are well ahead of the game. By comparison, the GOP just doesn't know how to use the 'system of tubes' (if you don't recognise the phrase, look it up on Wikipedia)- they're still using the internet that is made of 'trucks'!

The DFA and Daily Kos and the other guys I've spend the week with at the Big Tent in Denver might be to the Left, but there are Democratic Party activists who would be very at home in a Cameron-led Conservative party. Go for talent, not historical claims of shared-values - that's my tuppence-worth, anyhow.

McCain shows his class? I think not. McCain has realised that Obama is a very humble man and continues to praise McCain for his military service, yet McCain has been rooted in cynical attacks on his opponent.

McCain shows his class? I think not. McCain has realised that Obama is a very humble man and continues to praise McCain for his military service, yet McCain has been rooted in cynical attacks on his opponent.

I disagree. The one thing Obama is not is humble. He might present as being humble but in reality is as humble as a spitting cobra. How on earth did he beat the Hillary person? By being humble? I think not.

Today is truly an historic day. It was with great elation and pride with which I watched the news this morning. The magnitude of the situation cannot be under-estimated. For too long have we lived under the shadow of this illegitimate blight, for too long have we struggled with our conscience, our ethics, our guilt.

But lo, those days have passed, my fellow sports fans - seems like English Cricket is on the mend - hurray!

The key sentence is: "“How perfect that your nomination would come on this historic day".

The "historic day", of course, subtly reminds all who needed it (and that won't be those positive for Obama) of Martin Luther King and Obama's race. Ask yourself why that key phrase was omitted from the Washington Post coverage, if not because the writers there saw the signification.

Now go to the McCain attack ad from earlier this month: "The world will be blessed. They will call him --- THE ONE." It's on YouTube.

Or the analysis by Professor David Gergen of McCain's "dog-whistle" campaign. (That's also on YouTube.)

McCain was obviously currying a few votes. But I really wish people like canvas would drop this messianic stuff. It's not helping Obama at all. This is why potential voters who should be on his side aren't warming to him, as they don't know of his policies. And incidentally, if you read his website, his economic policies are quite useful and clever. But he has to say general things in his speeches as people are obsessed with the historical significance of his candidacy. Commentators would be showing him more respect if they treat him like any other politician. Analyse what he says, criticise or whatever, but don't make out this is some moment with destiny. And this history and destiny business just attracts nutters with guns to take a pop at him. I wish for the day an African American would achieve something and his race isn't even mentioned.

Mmmmm. By my standard a decent bloke doesn't insult his wife with the c word. Nor does he call people from South-East Asia gooks. Nor does he threaten to physically assault colleagues he disagrees with. Nor does he call a female political opponent a bitch, question her sexuality or question the parenthood of her child (deja vu South Carolina 2000). Nor does he verbally insult people during committee meetings with the most obscene words I've ever heard a publicly elected official use in public.